Device for splitting rolls.



P. J. COLLINS.

DEVICE FOR SPLITTING ROLLS.

APPLIUATION FILED NOV. 29, 1913.

1,9941 a Patented June 2, 1914:.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

P. J, COLLINS. DEVICE FOR SPLITTING ROLLS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 29, 1913.

Patented June 2, 1914:.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

wrmEssEa AHUHNEW v UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PATRICK J. COLLINS, OI E, PI-IILAIDELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR F ONE-HALF 'I'O JOSEPH'V. HORN, 0F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

DEVICE FOR SPLITDING: ROLLS.

Patented June 2, 1914.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, PATRICK J. GoLLINs, a citizen of the United States, residin in the city andcounty of Philadelphia, tate of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Device for Splitting Rolls, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a new and useful device for cutting or splitting art1cles, s1 1ch as a roll, and consists of means for receivlng the roll or similar article and holding the same during, the splitting or cutting thereof.

It further consists of a device which is capable of accommodating variations in the thickness of the article to be out.

It further consists of means adapted to be suitably actuated for engagement with the article and for holding the same while being Cut.-

It further consists of other novel features of construction, all as will be hereinafter fully set forth.

lhe annexed drawings and the following description set forth in detail one mechanical form embodying the invention, such detail construction being but one of various mechanical forms in which the principle of the invention may be used.

Figure 1 represents a perspective view of a device embodying my invention, illustrating a portion of the knife in position to be drawn through the device. Fig. 2 represents a sectional view on line 00-00 Fig. 1. Fig. 3 represents a sectional view on line y Fig. 1. Fig. 4 represents a plan view of the bottom of the device. Fig. 5 repre sents a perspective view of a device slightly different in construction from that shown in the preceding figures. Fig. 6 represents a sectional view on line ez Fig. 5.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in the figures.

Referring to the drawings, it will be understood that the device is adapted for splitting or cutting an article, such as a roll, and for ease of explanation and as illustrated, I will describe the device as applied to rolls but it will be understood that the invention may be adapted for cutting any suitable ararticle to be cut and which, as previously stated, is shown as suitable for a roll. In the form illustrated in Fi s. 1 to 4, I have shownthe device/ formed 0 lon in order to accommodate oblong rolls, whi e in the construction shown in Figs. 5 and 6, I have shown the same of suitable shape in order to accommodate the so called Vienna roll.

3 designates a plate secured to the said support or base 1 in any suitable or desired manner. As here shown, the said plate 3 is spaced from the base or support 1 by a spacmg member 4'and the parts are held in suit able posit-ion by means of bolts 5 or other suitable fastening means, it being understood that the said late is secured to the base or support at t e rear end thereof in order to provide aslot or knife guide openmg 6 between the said base 1 and plate 3 unobstructed on'three sides.

As here shown, the base 1 and plate 3 are formed hollow, although any' suitable construction may be employed in regard thereto which will accomplish the desired result. The plate 3 is provided with a recess or opening 7 corresponding to the opening or recess 2 in the base 1, the two openings forming an article retaining recess with a knife slot or opening, having three sides for the free assage of the knife therethrough.

8 esignates a presser foot or plunger resiliently supported in the opening 7 of the plate 3, which presser foot is adapted to accommodate various sized rolls and serve in applying a suitable amount of pressure to the roll during the act of cutting. As here shown, I have secured springs 9 upon the upper face of the plate 3 which are in engagement with suitable pins 10 which pass through suitable openings in the top of the plate 3 and are engaged with the said presser foot 8 for resiliently supporting the same. L

11 designates an extension on the base 1 which serves as a guide or support for the knife, at the slot 6, which guide, as previously stated, is formed by an extension on the base plate and which is adapted to receive the flat side of the knife, which may be rested upon the same and so that it may be guided into the guide slot 6, as will be understood.

An outwardl and upwardly extending lip 12 carried by t e plate 3, serves as an additional guide and between which and the extension 11 the knife is placed before the knife enters the slot 6 to impart a cut to the roll; I have found it of advantage to provide means for engagement with the roll for holding the same in posi tion in the cutter, since this holding means not only serves to prevent improper movement of the roll during the act of cutting but also provides means whereby handling of the roll durin the act of spllitting or cutting is obviate since theolder can be placed over a roll in a pile or stack thereof and by operating the holding means the roll is engaged and after the cutting or splitting ofthe roll the said split roll can be deposited at a desired point by the operator releasing the holding means.

In the resent instance, I have provided an operatin handle or lever 13 which is situated on t e top of the device for ease of access by the operator and which handle or operating lever 13 is in engagement with a shaft 14, which extends through the plate 3 and base 1 and has mounted thereon a jaw 15 carried by an arm 16 in suitable connection with the shaft 14, said jaw 15 being positioned in alinement with an opening 17 in the side wall of the recess or opening 2 of the base 1, in order that when the lever 13 is suitably actuated the shaft 1 1 is rocked causing. the said jaw 15 to be moved forwardly through the opening 17 and to enter the side of a roll beneath the knife slot6, so that said roll .will be properly held. In the resent instance, I have shown two of such aws, the second 18 of which is situated upon the opposite side on the base 1 and has an arm 19 ivotall mounted and having a portion t ereof in engagement with a portion of the arm 16 which suitabl actuates the arm 19, and I have provide a spring 20 hearing against the parts in order to hold said jaws 15 and 18 normally in the position seen in Fig. 4, that is, in retracted or inoperative position.

The operation of he y will be readil apparent. The operator grasps the han cs 21 and 22, 21 being for engagement by' the thumb and the other handle 22 for engagement by. a. suitable number of fingers, with the first finger free for engagement with the lever- 13. The device is now placed over a roll and the operator by moving the lever 13 actuates the jaws 15 and 18 causing the same to enter the roll at a oint beneath the guide slot 6 for the knife a er which the knife is rested upon the extension or guide 11 and can be drawn through the guide slot 6 in order to split the roll from end to end or substantially so as desired, after which the split roll can be deposited b the operator at any desired point ready or the next operation, this being accomplished by releasing the lever 13 whereupon the springdevice justdescribed 20 causes the gripping jaws 15 and 18 to be retracted, it being understood that the presser foot 8 will cause sufiicient tension or pressure upon the upper side of the roll to hold the same in its proper position.

In the construction seen in Fi at and 6, a somewhat similar device is isclosed in which 1 represents the base or support having an opening or recess 2 for the reception of articles, such as a roll, to which is secured the plate 3 which is spaced from the base 1 by means of the spacing member 4 and which plate is provided with a suitable opening vor recess substantially corresponding insize andshape to that of the openin in the base plate and the spaces 6 formed etween the base 1 and plate 3 forms the knife guiding slot open on three sides, as heretofore described. In this structure the ide or extension 11 is formed for the knife by the extension of the base 1.

23 designates a presser foot or frame plunger here shown as having a central opening 24 and with guide openings 25- formed at a suitable point therein adapted to receive the guides or uiding pins 26 projecting from t e upper ace of or carried by the plate 3, said plunger being provided on its under side with a rim 27 havin a suitably formed inner'face 28 slidably tting in the opening in the plate 3 to form a plunger or bearing member. A suitable handle 29 h is secured to the upper face of the plunger frame for operation of the same. In the operation of this construction, the device is placed over a roll, such as 30, which rests on the table or other surface and which is freely received in the retainer and with the plunger frame 28 bearing against the upper side of the said roll.

The vertical movement of the plunger frame 23 and of the rim 27 permits the plunger member to adapt itself to variations in thickness of the rolls to be split, so that the said plunger frame is caused by hand to properly engage with the roll and will hold the roll during the act of splitting or cutting, which is accomplished by placing the knife with its side upon the extension guide or support 11, whereupon it may be easily and quickly drawn into and through the guide slot 6 and through the'roll splitting the same.

In both constructions the roll will be conveniently situated in order that it will It will now be apparent that I have devised a novel and useful construction of a device for splitting rolls which embodies the features of advantage enumerated as desirable in the statement of the invention and the above description, and while I have, in the present instance, shown and described a preferred embodiment thereof which has been found in practice to give satisfactory and reliable results, it is to be understood that the same is susceptible of modification in various particulars without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a device of the character stated, a frame formed with a retaining recess and formed with a transverse knife guiding slot, and a movable gripping member for engaging the article to be cut.

2. In a device of the character stated, a frame formed with a retaining recess and formed with a transverse knife guiding slot, a movable gripping member for engaging the article to be cut, and means for actuating the same.

3. In a device of the character stated, a frame formed with a retaining recess and formed with a transverse knife guiding slot, a movable holdin member carried by said frame, a spring or holding the same normally in inoperative position, and means for actuating the same.

4. In a device of the character stated, a frame formed with a retaining recess and with a knife guiding slot, a grlpping member mounted for movement in said frame below said slot, and means exterior of said frame for operating said gripping member.

5. A device of the character stated, comprising a retaining frame formed with a retaining recess open at its upper and under sides and with a transverse knife-guiding slot, and a holding member provided with a bearing surface and movable in the said recess.

6. A device of the character stated, comprising a retaining frame formed with a retaining recess open at its under side and formed with a transverse knifeguiding slotand a flat knife-support rojecting beyond the frame at the slot in t e same and having its upper surface level with said slot to direct the knife thereinto.

7. A device of the character stated, comprising a retaining frame formed with a re taining recess open at its under side and formed with a transverse knife-guiding slot,

edge to form a transverse knife-guiding slot,

and a plunger frame vertically guided in its relation to said retainin frame and provided with a lunger rim aving a beveled inner face and guided in the recess of said guide-plate.

9. A device of the character stated, comprising a base plate formed with a central opening and with} a laterally projecting knifesupport, a guide plate having a registering central opening and secured at one ed e to said base-plate to form a transverse knife-guiding slot between them, guides extending from the upper side of said guideplate, and a plunger-frame having openings slidable upon said guides and provided with a plunger rim upon its under side guided in the opening of the guide-frame and having a beveled inner side.

10. A device of the character stated, comprising a retaining frame formed with a retaining recess open to receive the article to be cut and formed with a transverse kn feguiding slot, and a holding member hav ng a bearing surface and movable 1n the said recess.

11. A device of the character stated, consisting of a frame, comprising a frame formed with a retaining recess and with a transverse knife-guiding slot, and a plunger frame vertically guided in its relation to said frame and movable in the recessthereof.

12. A device of the character stated, com prising a baselate formed with a cent ral opening, a gui e-plate having a registering central opening and secured to said baselate to form a transverse knife-guiding slot tween them, a plunger frame movable within said recess, and means for guiding C. 1). MCVAY, M. E. Brmvn. 

